A MAN who stabbed a Coventry policewoman as she tried to arrest him was beginning a ten-year sentence yesterday.

Jason Sufi, aged 21, of Pioneer House, in Adelaide Street, Hillfields, attacked PC Naomi Baker last December 30 as she arrested him at his home for a brutal armed robbery a week before.

He pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court, sitting in Coventry, to attempted wounding with intent on PC Baker, assault with intent on her male colleague, two counts of robbery and grievous bodily harm with intent on a city jeweller. He also admitted possessing a blade in a public place and having an imitation firearm.

The court heard Sufi had been released from prison on December 8. A week later, he carried out a robbery at the family-run Louisa James jewellery store in the Burges, injuring two women employees and stealing a tray of rings worth #4,500.

A week after that, said prosecutor David Jones, Sufi went to the home of Steven Culbert, who lived next door to the jewellers shop he owned in Lock-hurst Lane, and tried to sell him jewellery.

Mr Culbert said he had closed his business due to ill health and was not interested. As he turned away, Sufi hit him around the head and body with a machete, leaving him with wounds that needed more than 50 stitches.

Mr Jones said: "He hit him with such force that the machete bent and Mr Culbert ended up on his knees begging him to take what he wanted."

Sufi escaped with #15,000 worth of personal jewellery and #150 cash.

A week later, PC Baker recognised Sufi as being wanted as she made routine inquiries at Pioneer House.

On the way out of the block Sufi struggled free, stabbing PC Baker in the chest. She was only saved by the stab-proof vest her parents had bought her.

Sentencing Sufi, Judge Richard Cole described him as a "very dangerous young man" with a shocking record of past convictions for robbery and violence from the age of 13.

He said he had no doubt that without the protective body armour, PC Baker would have died, and that any one of the blows inflicted on Steven Culbert could have killed him.